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In storing my 911 for winter, is it best to run most of the fuel out of the tank or to fill the tank to prevent moisture build up over the winter ? In either case I will add fuel stabilizer to the tank, but I'm torn between filling the tank knowing that today's fuels destabilize and turn gummy after about 45 days (and the car will be largely static until spring 2016) or running the tank almost dry and risking moisture build up over the winter. Any advice/direction will be greatly appreciated.
In storing my 911 for winter, is it best to run most of the fuel out of the tank or to fill the tank to prevent moisture build up over the winter ? In either case I will add fuel stabilizer to the tank, but I'm torn between filling the tank knowing that today's fuels destabilize and turn gummy after about 45 days (and the car will be largely static until spring 2016) or running the tank almost dry and risking moisture build up over the winter. Any advice/direction will be greatly appreciated.
Given the fuel system is closed and therefore doesn't "breathe" coupled with the plastic tank there is no concern any moisture build up in the tank or the fuel due to condensation over the storage time.
The real concern with a low fuel level would be having any fuel system components uncovered. Thus my preference would be to dump in whatever fuel "stabilizer" you want to use, then fill the fuel tank up then drive the car around enough, say 20+ miles, to use maybe a gallon of fuel -- to give the fuel a bit of room to expand or contract should the fuel temperature change with the ambient temperature -- and to ensure the fuel additive is well mixed and all fuel lines have fuel with this additive in them. (No way this takes 20 miles of driving but enjoy a nice drive before you put the car away.)
My sister's new Infiniti sat 6 months without being used. She loaned me the car to use for a few weeks and the engine started and idled just fine and on the road the engine ran just fine, but felt flat. Being unfamiliar with the car I assumed the car was just a "dog". But I used the car enough to the point I had to fill up the tank and did so with Shell V-Power. The owners manual called for premium and that is what I used. After the fresh fuel was added the engine was transformed and the engine's performance was not dog like at all afterwards.
This really brought home the effects of letting fuel sit for in this case 6 months.
Might add that AFAIK there was no gelling or gumming of anything in evidence. I mean the injector holes are tiny and it doesn't take much to block them yet the engine as I mentioned above fired right up and idled just fine. Once underway except for the feeling the engine was flat it didn't misfire or in any way act up.
She parked the car with no preparation to it being parked for 6 months and in fact after I was finished with it after about 2 weeks and maybe 1000 miles of use I parked it back on her driveway and there the car sat for another 6+ months.
When she went to use the car the battery was dead but with a new battery the engine fired right up and was just fine albeit probably down on power a bit but she never said anything about this to me.
Be sure you change the oil/filter before you put the car away and be sure it is clean with the radiator ducts and body water drain basins free of any trash.
Not sure the OP's going to have the car stored for 6 months, not in Columbus OH, unless he puts it away when the leaves start to turn color and doesn't bring it out again when the lawn needs mowing come spring and he has to move the car to get to the lawnmower.
When winter came in Chicago I wold park the 993 with around 1/2 tank, maybe less, and dump Sta-Bil in the tank. No adverse reaction in the spring when put back on the rood, did this for 5 years. Different generation 911 but same basic concept.
Gasoline is not nearly affected during storage during the winter as it is during the warmer months. You probably do not even need to add stabilizer but it is not a bad idea. Fill the tank, change the oil and add a battery tender. I also put mouse traps near each tire and cover the car while it is stored in my garage. I will take it out and drive it a few times in winter if the roads are dry with no salt and the temperature is at least 40F.
I have been storing my 997.1 every winter for the past 3 years (inside my heated garage) with full tank of gas without using any fuel stabilizer and I notice NOT ill effect when I take the car out in the spring.
I also recommend putting a box of moisture absorbent in the car to keep the interior dry.
I have been storing my summer cars (whether they are Porsche's Ferrari's or Lamborghini's) for years and I have them on chargers, covered and sitting on sisal rugs (they seem to work great keep tires perfect) I pick up from overstock. A few months of storage does not require much else, though I always make sure the cars are fully detailed before they go in.
You see those little (mini-football shape) fiction marks on the steel platform.....they will leave imprints on the tires and could cause the tire to make more noise...
